Page 47 of Family Like This

“Do you want to tell us what’s going on?” Mackie asks.

“I’m fine,” I say.

“Wow. You must really be feeling shitty if your poker face is that bad. Normally you’re the smoothest liar of all of us. It’s why you win at bullshit so much,” Aaron says.

“Fuck,” I groan, dropping my head back. “I don’t want to ruin tonight.”

“You know, talking about whatever’s bothering you isn’t going to ruin anything,” Joel says.

“I know. I’d just rather be here with you guys. Fighting with my girlfriend isn’t a group activity.”

Sarah laughs. “Funny. I thought that about healing from trauma—and it’s not. But supporting you is a group activity. One we’re all happy to participate in.”

With a sigh, I give in and tell them about our fight—mostly because I know they won’t let it go unless I do. I love them, but there’s a bit of mob mentality here.

“Aw, Miles is finally growing up,” Aaron teases when I’m finished. “I’m going to tell you what you always told me.” He clears his throat and puts on a deeper voice. “Dude, just fucking talking to her.”

“Thank you for that. Super helpful,” I tell him, even though I find myself smiling. “I know that’s what I need to do, but we also have to figure out the bigger issues, and that feels daunting. This is new for me.”

“We all get it. I think the important thing to remember is you’re never as right as you think you are,” Rae says. I open my mouth to respond, but she shakes her head. “Not even you. There’s always a compromise. It just takes time to find it.”

Well, there it is. Rae McKinley casually schooling me on a healthy relationship after how many years of her and Aaron being absolute shit at communicating. I guess they learned the hard way, which is a mistake I don’t want to repeat.

Mackie reaches over and squeezes my hand. “She’ll get there. Be gentle. Whatever confusion you’re feeling about this, I’m guessing it’s worse for her. She’s in uncharted territory.”

“We both are,” I say lamely.

“Yeah, but most of your life is still the same. You still have all of us and your family supporting you. Sure, you have to adjust to something new, but not like she does. She’s gained a boyfriend and entire extended family’s worth of people all while being pregnant. Now she’s in a new space, trying to figure it all out. It’s a lot.”

I groan.And me telling her what to do is making it worse.

“Figure something out?” Sarah asks with a soft smile.

“Yeah. I think I did.”

“You look a little better now, at least,” Aaron says.

“You guys are helpful sometimes.” I smile, then lean over and kiss Mackie on the forehead. “Mostly Macks.”

She shrugs. “Told ya, I’m the wise one.” She smiles mischievously, and just like that, we’re back to normal.

“My, how far we’ve come,” Joel says with a smile. “Wasn’t that long ago that we were sitting in the hot tub, and Rae and Aaron were pretending they were just friends. I was trying not to look at Sarah’s boobs, and you thought you’d never be tied down. Now here we are.”

“Here’s to growing up, someone hopefully getting a new hot tub for us to chill in, and to all the things that change but always stay the same,” Mackie says, raising her hand like she has a glass of champagne in it even though none of us have drinks nearby.

Laughing, we all do the same and “clink” our imaginary glasses together.

As everything else in my life gets more complicated, these are the things I hope never change.

It’s after eleven when I get back to the apartment. All the lights are off, so I’m assuming Amelia is asleep. I hope she is because she needs rest.

Don’t force it on her, though. Or tell her that.

Fuck, being in a relationship with her is harder than I thought it would be.

I glance over at the sink and see some dirty dishes, and I get a jolt of relief knowing she ate something.

I stand in the kitchen for a moment before walking down the hallway toward the bedrooms, not sure what I’m waiting for.

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